"Nursing strike" or self weaning

[Naschkatze]

DS has just turned one and has suddenly stopped wanting to breastfeed. He’s been BF since birth, bar the odd bottle when my sanity depended upon it. He has gradually reduced feeds down to 2/3 a day over the last couple of months but has refused almost every time for over a week now. He did feed this morning with a lot of coaxing but before that the previous successful feeds were Thursday morning and last Sunday afternoon! At other attempts, he has bitten me (numerous times), pushed me away or simply crawled off.
He eats well and will drink a small amount of cows milk which he gets at nursery now I’m back at work.

So, do I keep offering or call it a day with breastfeeding?

I think its up to you. My dd did similar at 15 months. I'd had enough though and seized the opportunity to easily wean her.

I think it sounds like he is self weaning and that's great, he's getting an independent little person! Sounds like you've done a great job!

Thank you both. I think since I’ve read so much about how unusual it is for a baby to self wean at this age I don’t want to misread the signs. Once BF was going well for us, I assumed he’d feed until around 2 so I’m happy to keep feeding if he wants to. Although, if the biting continues I might change my mind

Happened to us at 14 months- took quite a while to drink milk, but water was fine.
It was so nice to get a bit more freedom, and completely painless (emotionally). Just go with it!!

Both mine lost a interest at around a year. I took my cue from them and called it a day.

Obviously more common than I thought!

DD did this briefly at around 1, it only lasted a few days though and she is still bf at 18 months. If you want to stop now is the time to seize the opportunity to wean with less tears, I am dreading stopping as DD will get very very upset guaranteed.

Most of the breastfed children I know self weaned around 12 - 14 months.

My local la leche leader said at this age the diff between self weaning and a strike is their reactions. So if weaning and you offer they'll take a bit and quickly loose interest, with a strike they'll refuse point blank.

That said if your ready to stop there's no reason not to seize the moment, if you want to continue just keep offering. Your supply is well established by now so even if he has a couple of weeks off with time it'll come back to full efficiency and won't vanish completely in the meantime

@icclemunchy That’s really helpful. Thank you. He has been doing a bit of both; most times through the day will refuse point blank but this morning had another short feed.

I don’t think he’ll be that bothered if I decide to stop, so I just need to decide what I want!

Hard isn't it. Mine was 2yrs 8months when she decided she was done. I was pleased it was on her terms but oh I miss it so!!